Convertible footstool and table



J 1942- L. G. WALTER ETAL CONVERTIBLE FOOTSTOOL AND TABLE Filed Feb. 14, 1941 v W," I

l2 INVE TORSY i1: WXM i ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 6, 1942 UNITED} PATENT, OFFICE v ooNvnarmnaiggilfioor:ANDTABLE 7 A ,L oiii's G. Walter and Frederick (J. Koelle,

Philadelphia, Pa.

Application February 14, 1941, Serial No. 378,906 '2 Claims. (01. 155-43) The object of our invention is to devise a novel convertible -foot stool :or table which can be used as "a foot stool to support the legs and feet of a person sitting on a chair or'rocker 'or if it is not desired to use thedevice as a foot stool it can be turned so that the outer end of the leg supportingshelf of the stool will rest on the floor thereby forming a table.

A further purpose of the invention is to embody with the shelf novel means which can be positioned to form a firm base when the device is used as a table, and which will form a continuation of the leg supporting shelf when the device is used as a foot stool.

With the above and other objects in view as will hereinafter clearly appear, our invention comprehends a novel construction and arrangement of a convertible foot stool or table, which when not in use can be folded together to form a compact package for storage or shipment.

It further comprehends a novel foot stool comprising two members hinged together so that they can be adjusted to form right angles with each other, one of said members resting on the floor, and the other of said members forming a leg supporting shelf which at its outer end is provided in a novel manner with means toincrease the stability of the foot stool when used as a table.

Other novel features of construction and advantage will hereinafter more clearly appear in the detailed description and the appended claims.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, we have shown in the accompanying drawing a typical embodiment of it, which, in practice, will give satisfactory and reliable results. It is, however, to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which our invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and our invention is not limited to the exact arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as herein set forth.

Figure l is a perspective view of a convertible foot stool and table embodying our invention.

Figure 2 is an end view of the leg supporting shelf.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the device used as a table.

Figure 5 is a top plan view on an enlarged scale, showing more particularly locking means for the standard and shelf.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawing: .i

I designates a standardor supporting member preferably rectangular :in contour and formed of any desired material. i2 designates a leg supporting shelf, preferably rectangular in contour and having its inner end secured to the member I by hinges 3 in such a manner that the members can be folded together or positioned to form a right angle with *each other when the device is to be used as a foot stool.

The leg supporting shelf 2 when swung downwardly is automatically locked in a position at right angles to the standard I, by spring sockets 4 carried by one member, and Wedge shaped plugs 5 carried by the other member. As illustrated, the spring sockets are carried by the shelf and the plugs by the standard. The standard may have a tread 6 for example rubber or fabric against which the shoes of the person using the foot stool may rest. The base of the standard may be provided with floor contacting members 1, such as the tips shown which may be of rubber or any other desired material.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 2, 3, and 4, it will be clear that the outer or free end of the leg supporting shelf is provided with novel means to increase the supporting area of the floor contacting portion when the device is used as a table. A strip of material 8, having preferably the same width as the free end of the shelf 2 is secured to said shelf in such a manner that it can be turned at right angles to the plane of the shelf. The strip 8 has spaced inwardly projecting arms 9 which when the strip is at right angles to the plane of the shelf engages opposite sides of the shelf due to the provision of a spring H) which tends to move the strip towards the free end of the shelf.

A headed rod H, flush with the outer face of the strip, passes through the strip and has an abutment I2 at its forward end for the forward end of the spring. An apertured bar I3, secured in a slot M, has an opening l5 through which the rod ll passes, and forms an abutment for the outer end of the spring. The shelf is recessed at IE to receive the locking arms 9 and apertured as at I! to receive the rod II and the spring l0.

If desired, spaced blocks l8 may be secured to the free end of the shelf 2 by fastening devices, l9, and their inner faces are preferably inclined to conform to the inclination of the free ends of the strip 8.

The operation will now be apparent to those skilled in the art and is as follows:

Assuming that the members are folded together and it is desired to use the device as a foot stool, the shelf 2 is swung downwardly and the sockets and plugs automatically interlock to retain the leg supporting shelf 2 at right angles to the standard I. The tips I of the standard I rest on the floor and the user places his legs on the leg supporting shelf with his feet against the standard.

If the device is to be used as a table, the strip 8 is drawn outwardly, turned at right angles and released so that the spring III will cause the locking arms 9 to overhang opposite faces of the shelf 2. the strip 8 and feet I8 rest on the floor and the standard I is in a horizontal position and serves as a table top.

The members I and 2 may be made of any desired material but preferably of wood which is highly polished and given a desired color so that it will harmonize with the type of furniture with which it is used.

Juxtaposed faces of the strip 8 and the blocks I8 are preferably angularly inclined so that they closely fit and contribute to prevent warping of the shelf.

Cover plates 20 may be employed as shown.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: I

The device is now turned so that 1. A convertible foot stool and table, comprising a standard, a leg supporting shelf hinged to the standard, means to lock said standard and shelf when they are at right angles to each other, a strip pivotally carried at the free end of the shelf, yielding means tending to move said strip towards the free end of the shelf, said strip when aligned with the shelf being flush with end portions of the shelf, said shelf being recessed to receive said yielding means, and a cover for said recess to conceal said yielding means.

2. A convertible foot stool and table, comprising two members hinged together, one of which forms a standard and the other of which forms a shelf when used as a foot stool, means to lock said members at an angle to each other, a strip at the free end of the shelf and normally in alignment therewith but turnable at an angle to the shelf and having spaced arms to overhang the shelf when so turned, and a spring tending to move the strip towards the shelf, and said shelf having portions at the end of the strip forming a flush surface therewith, wherebywhen used as a table said strip and portions form a support and the standard forms a table top.

. I LOUIS G. WALTER.

FREDERICK C. KOELLE. 

